Rajan and Matt will talk delegates through the four pillars of FSB membership. The crux will be on a discussion around how the business voice is heard in the corridors of power. FSB advocates on behalf of small businesses right across the country and will support businesses with a franchise. We have had a huge influence on making change and influencing policy – recently securing a £940 million reduction in business rates for small firms; a freeze on the VAT threshold as well as on fuel duty. We also persuaded the Government to adopt a reform package to stop late payments to small businesses. We’ve successfully campaigned for small firms to be excluded from the IR35 extension and secured a £675 million Future High Street Fund. We successfully campaigned for the abolishment of the unfair ‘staircase tax’ and the halving of apprenticeship training co-investment. The 5.8 million small businesses in the UK make up 99.3 percent of all private sector businesses. They contribute a staggering amount to the UK’s local and national economies, as well as being a major source of employment. We encourage our members to get involved with our work – from engaging with our campaigns to standing in our local and national member volunteer elections. Together, we are stronger